Means for sealing off pipe in wells



c. c. BROWN 2,111,062

MEANS FOR SEALING OFF PIPE IN WELLSl Original Filed June 8, 1936 3Sheets-Sheet l lnua.. 75

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March 15, 1938. C. C -BROWN 2,111,062

MEANS FOR SEALING OFF PIPE IN WELLS Original Filed June 8, 1956 5Sheets-Sheet 2 CC Brown March 15, 1938. C, C, BROWN MEANS FOR SEALINGOFF PIPE IN WELLS Original Filed June 8, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 PatentedMar. 1.5, 1938 TES UNITED ST Application June 8, 1936, Serial No. 84,074Renewed August 23, 1937 14 Claims.

My invention relates to equipment to be employed in deep wells andpertains particularly to the means for closing the lower end of thecasing, liner, screen or other pipe set upon the bottorn of the well.

It is an object of the invention to provide a valve or sealing devicewhich may be positively operated to close the lower end of the well sothat no leakage of fluid upwardly into the liner or screen may takeplace.

I desire to provid-e a setting tool by means of which the liner andscreen may be set in position in the well and to employ the lsettingstring to positively close off the lower end of the liner or screenbefore the setting string is removed from the well.

The invention resides in the construction of the valve which closes thewell and the arrangement whereby it may be operated by means of asetting string.

With reference to the drawings herewith, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are upper,intermediate and lower views, respectively, of a. liner to be set in thewell, the views being partly in elevation and partly in centrallongitudinal section.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are similar views showing the upper, intermediate andlower portions, respectively, of the liner and setting tool but showingthe parts in position different from that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 'l is a central longitudinal section through the valve which closesthe lower end of the liner.

Fig. 8 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 7, but showing therotatable valve turned through 90.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the plane 9 9 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the plane Ill-I0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is an assembly view showing the liner in position in the well,certain parts being broken away for greater clearness.

Fig. 12 is a broken bottom plan view of the valve shown in Fig. '7.

Referring particularly to Fig. 11, I have shown the well as having beenequipped with a well 'casing I which has been cemented in position at 2.'I'he well has then been drilled with, a smaller drill downwardly intothe producing formation and has a liner 3, screen 4 and set shoe 5thereon. The liner is equipped adjacent the upper end with a packer 6 ofordinary construction and the set shoe is connected with the strainerthrough a valve housing 1. The i'nvenn tion is concerned particularlywith the valve enclosed within theA housing 'I for sealing off the lowerend of the well and adapted to be operated by the setting string shownat 8 extended downwardly within the liner.

In Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, I have shown the setting string positionedwithin the linery and screen and engaged therewith in the manner .inwhich the parts are assembled when the liner is introduced into thewell.

Referring particularly to the packer 6, it will be seen that saidpac-ker has at the upper end a 'packer setting sleeve 9, the upperextremity of which is beveled at I0 to guide the setting string therein.Belo-w this upper end is a recess having a lower shoulder II upon whichthe dogs I2 of the setting string may engage when the packer is to beset. The setting sleeve has a downward extension I3 thereon to which isconnected an interior collar I4 with upwardly projecting arms I5, theinterior face of which is formed with ratchet teeth I6 to engage' withthe packer barrel I'I. The lower end of the setting sleeve isconnectedat I8 with the collar I9 at the upperend of the packer. It will be seenthat when the setting dogs engage upon the shoulders II a downwardthrust thereon will move the collar I4 downwardly relative to the packerbarrel and the engaging teeth I6 will prevent its return upwardly, thusexpanding the packer 26. In thus moving the collar I9 downwardly toexpand the packer a pin 2l is` sheared 01T.

The packer barrel I'I is extended downwardly through the packer and isconnected by the coupling 22 to the screen 4. The lower end of thescreen is in turn connected at 23 to the valve housing 1. The lower endof the valve housing is in turn connected with the set shoe 5 in theusual manner.

The interior of the housing 23 has threaded engagement at 24 with thelocking. nipple 25, which extends upwardly within the lower end of thescreen to furnish attachment for the setting tool. The interior surfaceof the locking nipple has a shoulder shown at 26 toward the lower endwhich furnishes an upward abutment when the setting string is lockedwithin the strainer. Below theshoulder and spacedtherefrom is aninwardly projecting pin 21, the purpose of which will be laterexplained.

The set shoe at the lower end of the vvalve housing is formed with aback pressure valve therein. There is a valve seat ring 28 screwed intothe interior of the set shoe and having a central opening for thepassage of liquid therethrough. Said opening is normally closed Yagainst4upward. flow of fluid therethrough by means of the back pressure valve29. Said valve is normally held in closed position .by a spring 39seated upon a transverse support 3l which serves as a guide for thedownwardly extending valve stem 32.

Above the set shoe and back pressure valve is a manually operated valvewhich is adapted to be closed through the operation of the settingstring. The construction of this valve will be best understood fromFigs. '7 and 8. There is a lower stationary valve plate 33, which isscrewed within the valve housing at 34 forming therewith a rigidengagement. This plate is recessed on its lower side to form a chamberfor the lower relatively rotatable valve member 35. Both the valve plate33 and the rotatable valve 35 are formed with longitudinal openings 36in the plate and 3l in the rotatable member. These two passages will benormally in registration so that there are two longitudinal passagesthrough Vthe Valve member' for the passage of fluid.

The lower Valve plate 35 is secured nonrotatably to a valve stem 38extending axially through the valve members. Said stem has at its lowerend a circular nut 139, which may be screwed within a recess 40 in thelower end of the rotatable plate 35. When in that position it may belocked against rotation by a set screw 4l shown in Fig. 12. The nut isalso locked against rotation relative to the valve plate 35 by means ofa second set screw 42, also shown in Fig. 12.

'I'he valve stem projects downwardly from an upper operating sleeve 43.Said sleeve is a cupshaped member having upwardly extending side walls44 and a bottom plate fitting closely against the valve plate 33 androtatable relative to said plate. It has openings 45, 45 therein whichwill normally register with the openings 36 and 31 through the valvemembers. The walls of the operating sleeve are spaced from the innerwalls of the valve housing. There is at one side thereof a laterallyprojecting lug or key 46, shown best in Figs. 9 and 10. Thislugcooperates with two stationary upwardly extending ngers 4l on theplate 33 toY limit the rotation of the operating sleeve relative to thevalve member. On the interior of the cup adjacent the upper end are twoopposed inwardly extending lugs 48, the upper ends of which are beveledas shown at 49 in Fig. 8. Below these lugs 48 the interior wall isthickened at D and intermediate the length of the thickened portion Ihave placed a packing ring 5l. As will be seen from Figs. 7 and 8, thepacking ring is approximately triangular in cross section, one sidebeing dovetailed within an annular recess in the thickened wall 53. Theinner lip 52 of the packing projects into the passage through theoperating sleeve to engage with the setting string as will be laternoted. I provide a stufling box at 53 around the valve stem 38 andwithin the plate'V 33 to prevent leakage of liquid around therrotatingstem 38. The lower rotatable valve member 35 is formed at points 90 awayfrom the openings 3l with chambers 54 to house ball members 55.A Saidballs are held upwardly in the `chambers 54 by means of coil springs 55bearing at their lower ends againstV the lower wall of the chamber andtending to hold the ball upwardly into the lower ends of passages 35mthe plate 33. There is van opening shown at 5l in the `lower ends of thechambers 54 to allow circulation upwardly therein of liquid fromthewell. It will be understood that of the sleeve 72.

the two balls 55 are housed downwardly within the chambers 54 when thevalve is in open position, as shown in Fig. 8, but when the lower valvemember 35 has been rotated through 90 the balls 55 will be projectedupwardly by the springs into the lower ends of the passages 35 in theplate 33.

In setting the liner and screen in position and operating the valvewhich has just been described the lower end of thersetting string isparticularly constructed for that purpose. The lower end of the settingstring 8 is engaged with a coupling 58, the lower end of which isengaged with the setting barrel 59. The transverse locking pin 69 tendsto hold these parts in engagement. This pin, together with a lowerlocking pin 53a, are extended across the tube to serve also to obstructthe downward passage with thepushing fluid of foreign material such assticks, string and similar matter. Y

Spaced downwardly from the lower end of the collar is a packing collar6|. Between the collars 58 and 6l is arranged an anti-friction bearingrace including a ring 62, an upper ring 63, and anV intermediate row ofballs E4. YThe lower ring 52 of the race is adapted to engage the upperend 55' of the locking nipple E5.

The packing collar 3! has an outwardly eX- tending packing gasket 65 xedthereon, said ring projecting in such manner as to Vengage within thecylindrical inner surface of the locking nipple. It has an overhangingand downwardly extending flange Slithereon to engage above the reducedupper ends 58 of the latching dogs 69. l

The latching dogs have inwardly extending upper ends to engage over ashoulder 1D on the outer surface of the setting barrel 59. These dogsdepend downwardly from the shoulder and have at their lower endsoutwardly projecting fingers ll, the upper portion of which is beveledto engage against the shoulder 25 in the locking nipple.

Below the locking dogs is a sleeve 'l2 having a threaded engagement onthe outer surface of the setting barrel 59 and adapted to be screwedlongitudinally thereon. The upper end of this sleeve has its outerdiameter increased and the upper portion thereof is beveled at 'i3 tocontact or wedge within the lower ends of the locking dogs 69. On theouter surface of the sleeve l2 and extending downwardly beyond the lowerend thereof are keys or ngers '14, which are adapted to engage with theupwardly extending lugs 48 on the operating sleeve. Y

Spaced below the sleeve 12 is a collar 'l5 which acts as a stop,limiting the downward movement The lower end of the collar 'i5 willordinarily contact in sealing relation with the gasket or packing member62.

In setting the strainer in the well I introduce the setting stringdownwardly through the liner and screen and engage the lower end thereofwithin the valve housing and the lower end of the strainer. The partsare then locked in position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the sleeve l2being screwed upwardly along the setting barrel to engage beneath theVlower ends of the latching dogs Vwhich are moved outwardly and clampedagainst the shoulder 26. The two parts are thus locked rigidly together.'I'he lower ring 52 of the bearing race is held stationary against theupper end 65 Yof the locking nipple, and serves both as a stop Vbearingand as a seal against the passage of uid. A seal is also'made at theupper end of said nipple by the packing member 66. There is another sealformed toward the lower end of the setting string by the .packing gasket52. Thus there will be no opportunity for the circulation of liquidbetween the lower end of the setting tool and the locking member.

The valve member at the lower end of the valve housing will be in openposition while the liner and strainer are lowered into position at thebottom of the well. Fluid may be circulated downwardly through the linerduring this operation and it will be able to pass through the openings45, 36 and 31 and past the back pressure valve 29 around the lower endof the set shoe. When the device is placed upon the bottom of the wellit is then desired to close the valve at the lower end of the strainerand this may be done as follows: f

rlhe laterally extending key or finger 7i! on the sleeve 12 will, byrotation of the setting string,V be brought into contact rst with thestop p-in 21 and then with the interior lug Q8 at the upper end of theoperating sleeve. The pin 21, being stationary, will tend to hold thesleeve 'l2 stationary while the setting barrel is rotated. This willscrew the sleeve 12 downwardly until it engages the upper end of thestop collar l5. The setting tool is thus released from the screen beforethe valve is opened. Further rotation will then tend to move the key orfinger M with'the locking nipple and thus rotate the operating sleevethrough the engagement of the key with the lug 48 as previously noted.When the operating sleeve is thus rotated, rotation will becornmunieated to the stem 33 and to the lower valve member 35. Theseparts will be rotated relative to the valve plate 33 and tend to closethe same. Th'e valve will be rotated until the outer lug 46 engagesagainst the stationary stop member il thus indicating that the valve hasbeen closed. In this position the balls 55 will be projected upwardly tofurther close any passage of liquid through the valve plate 33, whichmight tend to leak around the valve. Thus if the upper portion oi thevalve plate 33 should be clogged with material and tend to leak betweenthe same and the lower wall of the operating sleeve i3 the valves 55will further seal and prevent such leakage.

The latching dogs 69 having been released by the downward movement ofthe sleeve 12 it will now be possible to pull the setting sleeveupwardly and proceed to the setting of the packer 6. The packer settingdevice which is disclosed particularly in Fig. l is no part of thepresent invention. It comprises setting dogs I2, which are looselymounted at their upper ends to allow the lower end T6 to move outwardlyagainst the interior of the liner. Said dogs will therefore eventuallyengage above the shoulder l l on the setting sleeve, as shown in Fig. 4.The downward movement of the setting string therefore will move thesetting sleeve downwardly and compress the packer 6 in the usual manner.The setting tool may then be adjusted in position in the well and may beused as an eduction tube if desired. Otherwise, it may be withdrawn fromthe well.

It will be seen that I have devised a valve for closing the lower end ofthe well which may be positively operated to close off and seal againstthe passage of liquid in either direction through the lower end of thestrainer. The well is thus equipped with the usual back pressure valve,and, in addition, with the manually operated valve which is adapted toform a tight seal against the leakage of any liquid whatever. This typeof valve is not materially impaired by erosion of the iiuid passages asa seal will still be maintained. Further, it cannot easily becomeclogged. Experience has shown that nails, sticks and other foreignmaterial lodging in the passages` 36 will be sheared off by the closingof the valve and thus not prevent closure. The setting string which isemployed in operating the valve may also be used in setting the packerand will serve as a tubing in flowing the liquid from the well. Theadvantages of this form of seal are many and will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A well strainer, a valve housing secured thereto, a valve plate iixedin the lower end thereof, said valve plate having an openingtherethrough for passage of fluid, a valve disc housed on the lower sideof said plate and having an opening to be brought into registration withthe opening in said valve plate, an operating sleeve in Ysaid housingabove saidplate to which a setting string may engage, and means con saidoperating sleeve engaging said valve disc to rotate the saine when saidoperating sleeve is moved rotatably.

2. A well strainer, a valve housing secured thereto, a valve plate fixedin the lower end thereof, said valve plate having an openingtherethrough for passage of fluid, a valve disc housed on the lower sideof said plate and having an opening to be brought into registration withthe opening in said valve plate, an operating sleeve in said housingabove said plate to which a setting string may engage, an axial stem onsaid operating sleeve rotatable in said valve plate to move said disc tobring the opening therein into or out of registration with the openingin Said plate.

3. A well strainer, a valve housing secured thereto, a valve plate iixedin the lower end thereof, said valve plate having an openingtherethrough for passage of iluid, a valve disc housed on the lowersideofsaid plate and having an opening to be brought into registration withthe opening in said valve plate, an operating sleeve in said housingabove said plate to which a setting string may engage, means on saidoperating sleeve engaging said valve disc to rotate the same when saidoperating sleeve is moved rotatably, and a ball valve mounted in saiddisc adapted to engage in the opening in said plate when said sleeve ismoved to close said openings.

fl. A well strainer, a valve housing at the lower end thereof, a valveplate xed in said housing and having fluid passages therethrough, avalve disc fitting rotatably on the lower face of said plate, fluidpassages in said disc, an operating sleeve on the upper side of saidplate, an axial stem on said sleeve extending through said plate toengage said disc whereby the rotation of said sleeve will rotate saiddisc to move the passages therein into or out of registration with saidpassages in said plate, and means to rotate said sleeve. l

5. A well strainer, a valve housing at the lower end thereof, a valveplate fixed in said housing and having uid passages therethrough, avalve disc iitting rotatably on the lower face of said plate, fluidpassages in said disc, an operating sleeve on the upper side of saidplate, an axial stem on said sleeve extending through said plate toengage said disc whereby the rotation of said sleeve will rotate saiddisc to move'the passages therein into or out of registration with saidpassages in said plate, means to limit the movement of said sleeve, andmeans torotate said sleeve.

6. A well pipe, a valve housing thereon, a valve plate in said housinghaving a fluid passage therethrough, a valve disc on the lower side ofsaid plate having a passage to register with the passage on said plate,a valve sleeve above said plate formed with openings therein to alignwith the opening in said plate, a stem on said sleeve engaging said discto rotate the same with said sleeve through and a valve in said discengaging in the opening in plate to close the same when said sleeve isrotated to bring the opening in said sleeve out of alignment with theopenings in said plate.

7. A well pipe, a valve housing thereon, a valve plate in said housinghaving a fluid passage therethrough, a valve disc on the lower side ofsaid plate having a passage to register with the passage on said plate,a valve sleeve above said plate formed with openings therein to alignwith the opening in said plate, a stem on said sleeve engaging said discto rotatefthe same with said sleeve through 90, and a valve in said`disc engaging in the opening in plate to close the same when saidsleeve is rotated to bring the opening in said sleeve out of alignmentwith the openings in said plate, and a setting string operable from theupper end of the well to engage and rotate said sleeve.

8. A well pipe, a valve housing at the lower end thereof, a valve platetherein having uid openings therethrough, a valve disc below said plate,an operating sleeve above said plate and fixed to rotate with said disc,said disc and plate having openings therethrough adapted by rotation ofsaid sleeve to be brought into and out of registration with the openingsin said plate, a setting string extending downwardly through said pipeand having a sealing engagement with said sleeve whereby said sleeve maybe rotated.

9. A well pipe, a valve housing at the lower end thereof, a valve platetherein having fluid openings therethrough, a valve disc below saidplate, an operating sleeve above said plate and fixed to rotate withsaid disc, said disc and plate having openings therethrough adapted byrotation of said sleeve to be brought into and out of registration withthe openings in said plate, a setting string extending downwardlythrough said pipe and having a sealing engagement with saidY sleevewhereby said sleeve may be rotated, means to limit said rotationand'ball valves in said disc to close the openings in said plate frombelow.

10. A well pipe, a valve housing at the lower end thereof, a valve platetherein having uid openings, a valve disc lying against said plate andhaving openings therein adapted by rotation to be brought into and outof registration with the openings in said valve plate, a setting stringextending downwardly from the surface and having a sealing engagementabove said valve and means on said string engageable with said dise torotate the same to register said openings and discharge iiuidtherethrough.

11. A well pipe, a valve housing at the lower1 end thereof, a valveplate therein having fluid openings, a valve disc lying against saidplate and having openings therein adapted by rotation to be brought intoand out of registration with the openings in said valve plate, a settingstring extending downwardly from the surface and having a sealingengagement above said valve and means on said string engageable withsaid disc to rotate the same to register said openings and dischargefluid therethrough, and additional means to close, the openings 'throughsaid plate when said openings are out of registration with each other.

i2. A well pipe, a valve housing at the lower end thereof, a valve platetherein having fluid openings therethrough, a valve disc adjacent saidplate, an operating sleeve fixed to rotate with said disc, said disc andplate having openings therethrough adapted by rotation of said sleeve tobe brought intov and out of registration with the openings in saidplate, a setting string extending downwardly through said pipe andhaving a sealing engagement with said sleeve where-V by said sleeve maybe rotated, and means to limit said rotation. Y

13. A well strainer, a valve housing at the lower end thereof, a valveVplate xed in said Vhousing and having fluid passages therethrough, avalve disc tting rotatably against one face of said plate, uid passagesin said disc, an operating sleeve on said plate, an axial stern on saidsleeve to engage said disc whereby the rotation of said sleeve willrotate said disc to move the passages therein into or out ofregistration with said passages in said plate, means to limit themovement of sai-d sleeve, and means to rotate said sleeve.

14. A Well pipe, a valve at the lower end thereof including a transverseplate having iiuid openings, a rotatable plate adjacent thereto havingopeningsY therein adapted by rotation brought into and out ofregistration with said fluid openings, means to center said rotatableplate, a setting string, means on said rotatable plate to form a sealingengagement with said string whereby said rotatable plate may be moved.

CICERO C. BROWN.

to be,Y

